Israel, much like the fortress of Tel-Chai that Jospeh Trumpeldor fought to defend against Arab conquerors in 1920, finds itself beseiged by enemies both within and without. Terrorists, would-be friends inside and outside Israel, and even bad government officials. Here are the discussions of one proud Zionist resident on the state of the nation and abroad.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Women may be able to serve on rabbinic judiciary panels for a change

The committee that elects rabbinic judges, or dayanim, will be forced to include at least three women if a draft bill passed by the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Monday is ratified by the Knesset.

The judiciary committee contains 10 members: the justice minister (who also acts as the committee chairman) and another minister, two Knesset members, the two chief rabbis, two rabbinical court judges and two representatives of the Israel Bar Association. The proposed bill, drafted by MK Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli (Habayit Hayehudi), would require at least one of the ministers, Knesset members and Bar Association representatives to be women. In addition, the bill, suggests that an 11th, female, member be added to the committee, chosen by the Authority for the Advancement of Women. [...]

Mualem-Rafaeli said she wanted to make sure that the judiciary committee reflected the true face of the society.

"Fifty percent of the population is female," she said at the committee hearing. "With more women involved in the process, the Halachah (religious law) can be more Jewish."

Mualem-Rafaeli also said she respected Jewish tradition and wanted to preserve it for as long as possible.

And she is. But, as expected, not all Haredi politicians agree with her:

...MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) opposed the proposals. He said that by allowing more women onto the committee to choose rabbinical judges, "you'll turn Israel into a secular state."

Gafni also asked why such laws were not being promoted on the state judicial front, saying such changes would terminate the traditional and religious nature of the state. He said the changes would destroy the system and "divert the ship" away from the philosophy of haredim not standing apart from the rest of the Jewish nation.

MK Adi Kol (Yesh Atid), who comes from a secular background, supported the proposed bill and dismissed Gafni's protests, saying that such talk only distanced the average Israeli from Jewish tradition.

Exactly. That's just what backwards buffoons like Gafni simply can't get through their heads, that if they keep opposing women serving the cause of religion on a family council, it'll only harm the cause of Judaism. The women who want to serve on rabbinic councils simply want to contribute to helping religion, not hurting it. Plus, they too are religious, so it'll all in the name of Judaism that they're doing it.

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About me

I'm Avi Green

From Jerusalem, Israel

I was born in Pennsylvania in 1974, and moved to Israel in 1983. I also enjoyed reading a lot of comics when I was young, the first being Fantastic Four. I maintain a strong belief in the public's right to knowledge and accuracy in facts. I like to think of myself as a conservative-style version of Clark Kent. I don't expect to be perfect at the job, but I do my best.